Knocking On Death's Door
By: Jacyn
Sore and tired, Ainet had finally made her way through the undead elite and stood facing the portal to the River of Souls. It's swirling mass reminded her of a great maw eager to devour any who dared to enter. She nibbled on some rations as she contemplated if this was truly the right thing.
"She doesn't remember the man she used to love; the man I used to be. Is it better this way?" she thought to herself. "She's happy and he seems a good man. Should I just accept what is and take solace in her happiness?" Her hammer's head flared as if answering her. "NO!! She deserves to remember the past she had; all of it. Let love decide our paths, together or apart. I know the mixing of elves and humans was taboo in the past. But look at the times now, dwarves are playing drinking games and singing with elves. That never would happen before now. "Gods, please let Kadiskas remember me as the man I was. Let the love we once shared smolder and spark into flame renewed. I dedicated my life to your services before and renew that vow again. I swear to wield my hammer to help the helpless, defend the defenseless and heal the hurt. Please, let her remember all she has forgotten. Give us back what was taken from us before our time." A look of determination creased her face, "But, first things first. Time to get my manhood back."
As she stepped through the portal, the stench of death and decay almost knocked her over. "It's a good thing the dead don't need to breathe or I'd be slipping in pools of offal as well," she joked to herself. The humor was short lived however as she took in the sights around her. Giant forms of undead patrolled the land. Ghostly wisps floated about shedding an eerie light as they passed. How was she to get through them? She wasn't powerful enough to try direct combat; they'd kill her in seconds. She wasn't a rogue, able to meld with the shadows and move silently unseen. She reached inside herself and called upon the Great Jaguar. Surprisingly she was heard and felt much more nimble and quick. It wasn't the stealthy art a rogue can master, but it would have to do. Her armor was too noisy and would give her away quickly (it wouldn't help her against foes like these anyway) so she removed it and hid it among some rocks.
She slinked as quietly and quickly as she could for one who was never trained to move thus. How could she hope to find her old body in all this? But then an idea entered her mind. Was it possible to find her old body by concentrating on it. In a small alcove above and away from the undead below, she knelt and began to meditate. Focusing her mind to regain the link to her old self. After a time a "ping" entered her mind and she came to with a start. She knew where it was...if she could get to it. So, she began her "stealthing" once again. "Gods, Tash would be rolling with laughter if she could see me now," she thought. The thoughts of her friends renewed her resolve to survive this ordeal. From rock to spire to nook to cranny she went, trying to be sneaky, but failing miserably. She'd trip over rocks and other assorted mistakes. Mistakes that could cost her life.
Eventually she arrived at her destination. It took longer than expected, with a few close calls with the patrols almost seeing her. There, it had to be there. In a pile of bodies was the body, or what was left of it, of her former self. Only one "small" problem remained, how to get past the huge undead dragon. To her right she noticed a path that might, "might" get her around it. It was risky, but what choice did she have after coming so far only to turn back now. She skirted around, moving only when it wasn't looking in her direction. When she reached the pile, a new question entered her mind. "If I do manage to get my old body out of here without being noticed, how will my soul make the transfer?" There were no Avatars of the Vigil around to perform the ritual, so what to do? Then she had an idea. "What about the River of Souls itself? I know if I enter it alone, my soul will be ripped from my body. But, since it's not my original body, is it possible the effect might work in reverse with Jacyn's body in contact with my own?" It was a terrible gamble, but what did she have to lose?
Ever so carefully and slowly, she began to move the bodies until she found her "prize." She sat there looking at her former self. The body was burned and broken, but not as decimated as she once believed. It was much lighter than she anticipated, she was able to carry it over her shoulder easier that she thought possible. "Elves will never cease to amaze me with their slender bodies hiding such power within them," she thought to herself as she retraced her steps.
Soon she came to the bridge she crossed earlier, the river "flowing" beneath it. She carried her burden to the middle and stepped to the edge. With a quick and silent prayer she jumped. She hit the "water" with a silent splash. Intense pain coursed through her body like a lightning storm. It was all she could do to hold on to her old body. She kept the image of Kadiskas smiling before their "death" firmly before her. Suddenly it felt as if she exploded from within; nothingness followed. Her eyes opened and she found herself on the shore of the River. She was sore, extremely hungry, but very much alive. There was one noticeable difference though. "He" was lying on the beach. The elven female body lay next to him, dried to a husk of it's former self. The portal wasn't far away and he made it relatively quickly. "It worked!" he cried to himself. The river pulled his soul from "Ainet" and the current must've swept it into "Jacyn." The transfer must've also pulled the remaining life energy from the elven body and into his, repairing the damage done, well most of it anyway. He went to where the armor was stashed. Frowning, he dropped it to the ground. It was made to fit a slender elf woman, not a fit human man. The hammer was lost in the River as well. So weaponless and naked, save for a strip of cloth around his midsection he left the River of Souls and returned to the mortal realm a man once again.
Waiting for him was a sight that brought him to his knees. For hovering nearby was an Avatar. A comforting female voice entered his mind, "You do not belong here Jacyn. It is too dangerous for one such as yourself." It was true, although he could remember his past teachings, he could not "unlock" them in his mind. It was like starting his training all over again. She continued, "The Vigil sent me to send you to a safer location, once. After that, your life and your death are yours to control."
"He truly loves her. Why else would he have braved the realm of death alone," came a male voice with out of nowhere. A flash of light and he found himself standing in Divine Landing. At least he had minimal gear on; one final gift he would not squander. The road to Sanctum would be difficult at best for one of his meager skills now. Nearby he noticed an human female geared in leather, daggers on her hips, getting ready to travel herself. "Well, there's safety in numbers," he said to himself. He walked up to her and held out his hand in greeting, "Hello, my name is Jacyn. I'm traveling to Sanctum by the way of Argent Glade. If you are heading that direction, would you mind a traveling companion?" The whole time his mind saying "Kadiskas, my love, I'm back and I'm coming home to you. I've been to Death's doorstep and back and nothing will ever keep me from you again." Somewhere in the distance a bear roared....